To merge two screenshots into one image on a Mac, use Preview for a one-off layout you want to place by hand, or Shortcuts to combine images horizontally, vertically, or in a grid with a repeatable action. If you are asking how to put two screenshots side by side, choose a horizontal layout; to combine screenshots vertically into one long image, choose a vertical layout. Both methods use built-in macOS apps and need no paid software.
Which Mac method should you use?
Pick Preview when the images need individual positioning, trimming, or a carefully sized canvas. Pick Shortcuts when you want the same combination action to run again on selected images, or need to process several screenshots in a consistent layout.
| Need | Preview | Shortcuts |
|---|---|---|
| Manual positioning | Best fit: you control where the screenshots sit on the canvas. | Less suited to fine placement; it combines images according to the chosen layout. |
| Repeat the same operation | Requires repeating the manual steps. | Best fit: save the workflow and run it again. |
| Layout | Side by side or vertical, with manual canvas placement. | Choose Horizontally, Vertically, or a grid for multiple images. |
| Several files | Possible, but more hands-on. | More convenient for repeated or multi-image combinations. |
In either app, the final image can have blank margins or an awkward seam if the screenshots have different sizes, scales, or orientations. Crop excess areas and align the meaningful content before sharing.
How to merge two screenshots in Preview
Preview is the better choice when the combined image needs deliberate composition rather than an automatic join. The practical approach is to create enough working space for both screenshots, then place the second image in that space. The exact canvas-resizing controls may vary with the macOS version and the document you are editing.
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- Put the files together. Save both screenshots in an easy-to-find folder. If you need to crop browser bars or empty margins, do that before arranging them.
- Open the first screenshot in Preview. You can open a group of image files in one Preview window. Apple’s Preview documentation also describes adding files to an open document by choosing View > Thumbnails and dragging files into the sidebar. Apple notes: “You can set whether Preview opens multiple image files in separate windows or in the same window.”
- Make room for the second screenshot. For a side-by-side image, make the working canvas wide enough for both screenshots; for a vertical image, make it tall enough. Current Mac how-to coverage describes resizing the canvas and then pasting or dragging the second screenshot into the open area. Keep the original files unchanged in case you want to start over.
- Position the screenshots. Use the thumbnail/sidebar order and the canvas position to arrange the images. For a clean join, keep their scale consistent and line up the edges that should meet. If one image is taller or wider, decide whether to crop it or leave an intentional margin.
- Export a single image. Choose File > Export and select PNG or JPEG. Preview also supports formats including HEIC, JPEG 2000, OpenEXR, PDF, and TIFF. Confirm the exported file opens as one image before deleting or moving the originals.
Side-by-side layout
Use a landscape-oriented canvas wide enough for both screenshots. Put the first screenshot on the left and the second on the right, and align either their top edges or a feature that should continue across the join. If the images have different heights, crop them to a common height when the content allows it; otherwise, a margin above or below one image may be clearer than stretching it.
Vertical, long-image layout
Use a taller canvas, putting the earlier or upper section first and the next section below it. Match widths and scales before joining. A long image is most legible when repeated interface elements, such as navigation bars, have been cropped or when the seam is placed between distinct content sections.
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How to combine screenshots with Shortcuts
Shortcuts is useful when you often need the same result, such as joining selected screenshots into one long image. Build the action once, then run it again from Finder, Shortcuts, or a configured keyboard or Quick Action trigger. The action names below describe the workflow; available shortcut input and save choices can differ by macOS version.
- Create a shortcut. Open the Shortcuts app and create a new shortcut.
- Set up image input. Add an action to select multiple image files, or configure the shortcut to receive selected images as input.
- Add Combine Images. Choose Horizontally for side-by-side screenshots or Vertically for one long image. For multiple images, current Mac how-to coverage also describes a grid option.
- Preview the result if needed. Add Quick Look after Combine Images to inspect the output before saving.
- Save the combined image. Add a save or export action and choose the destination folder. Run the shortcut with two test screenshots first so you can check the order, orientation, and output before using it on a larger selection.
Choose the order before running
The order of selected or received files determines the order of the combined result. If the images appear in the wrong sequence, adjust the selection or input order and run the shortcut again. For a vertical sequence, place the top portion before the lower portion; for a horizontal sequence, place the left portion before the right portion.
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Make the seam and file easier to use
- Crop to meaningful content. Removing unrelated browser chrome, blank borders, or repeated headers can make the join easier to read. Keep context that helps someone understand where the screenshots came from.
- Match scale and orientation. Screenshots captured at different scales can make interface text appear inconsistent and create empty margins. If you cannot match them, align the content area and accept a margin rather than distorting either screenshot.
- Choose a format for the material. PNG is a sensible choice for crisp interface text and diagrams when file size is acceptable. JPEG is an option when a smaller, photographic-style file matters more. Apple’s Preview guide confirms both formats are supported; neither is universally best for every image.
- Check the exported result. Open the saved image and inspect the seam, text, margins, and image order at normal viewing size. If the output looks soft, return to the original screenshots rather than enlarging a reduced export.
- Consider PDF for very long material. If readers need selectable text or the content spans many sections, a PDF may be easier to navigate than one extremely tall image. Preview handles PDFs, but use an image format when the deliverable specifically needs to be one image.
Troubleshooting a merged screenshot
The second image does not land where expected
Check whether you are adding it to the open document or merely opening it as another Preview window. Apple documents using View > Thumbnails and dragging files into the sidebar to add them to an open document. If the result still behaves like a separate image, return to the canvas-placement step and verify that there is enough working area for the intended layout.
The seam is uneven or there is a blank strip
The screenshots may have different dimensions, scales, or crops. Trim excess margins, make their scales consistent where possible, and align the content edges. In Shortcuts, a layout combines the inputs, but it does not replace the need to prepare images with compatible proportions.
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The images are in the wrong order
For Preview, reposition them on the canvas. For Shortcuts, change the order of selected or received files and run the shortcut again. Check the final output rather than assuming Finder’s visible order matches the sequence you intend.
The saved file is not in the format you wanted
In Preview, use File > Export and explicitly select PNG or JPEG. In a shortcut, inspect the save/export action and destination. Reopen the saved result to confirm it is one image and that its contents survived export.
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The image is too long to share or read comfortably
Crop repeated or irrelevant areas, or divide the material into logical sections. If one continuous image is not essential, use a PDF so a reader can move through the material without scrolling through a very tall bitmap.
Or skip the browser setup
If your screenshots are of web pages you can access by URL, ScreenshotNeo can capture the page as an image; it does not merge existing local screenshot files. You can then combine the resulting image with another screenshot in Preview or Shortcuts. One GET request returns a screenshot or PDF. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options.
Quick Recap
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpScreenshotNeo removes cookie and consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; each of those steps can be turned off. Bot checks or CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and the response identifies the page verdict and billing status in headers. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots. Learn more at ScreenshotNeo, or sign up free.
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